Pepper introduces first dedicated London BDM in sales team expansion

Pepper Money has strengthened its field sales team with the appointment of two new regional development managers, enhancing support for brokers across London and the South East.

Steve Bailey joins as BDM for the South East, while Grace Bennett (pictured) takes on the role of BDM for London, marking the introduction of dedicated, on-the-ground broker support in the capital. 

Both will play a key role in supporting brokers with customers whose circumstances fall just outside high street criteria, including those with complex income, historic credit issues or affordability challenges. 

The news follows Pepper Money’s re-entry into the buy-to-let market last year, with the new hires focussed in regions with a strong landlord presence. 

Steve joins Pepper Money with more than 20 years of experience in financial services, having held roles at Lighthouse Group, OneFamily in the equity release market, and more recently specialist lenders including Landbay, Bluestone and LiveMore. 

Grace brings over eight years of experience in the mortgage industry from Family Building Society, where she progressed from telephone-based BDM support into a field role, spending nearly six years working closely with brokers across London.

Ryan Brailsford, business development director at Pepper Money, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Grace and Steve to the team. Both bring valuable experience and a strong track record of supporting brokers, which is central to how we operate.

“These appointments are an important step in broadening our field sales team and strengthening our regional presence. Introducing dedicated support in London, alongside expanding our coverage in the South East, ensures we are well positioned to work more closely with brokers as demand for specialist lending continues to grow. Our most recent Specialist Lending Study shows that 73% of Londoners who have experienced adverse credit are concerned it will impact their ability to secure a mortgage, alongside 59% in the South East, highlighting the need for more tailored, advice-led support in these regions.”

Grace Bennett commented: “I’m excited to be joining Pepper Money and to be working with brokers across London. The business has a strong reputation for supporting advisers with a flexible and pragmatic approach, and I’m looking forward to building relationships and helping brokers place more complex cases with confidence.”

Steve Bailey added: “Pepper Money is well known for its commitment to supporting brokers and delivering consistent service. With the market continuing to evolve, there is a growing need for specialist solutions, and I’m looking forward to working closely with advisers to help them find the right outcomes for their customers.”